No. 10 MSU Gymnastics Edged by No. 16 Ohio State in Road Dual
2/26/2022 6:33:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 10 Michigan State gymnastics fell 197.075-196.850 in head-to-head action at Ohio State on Saturday night. MSU came away with three individual event titles and outscored the Buckeyes on beam 49.450-48.875.
"We know we can do better than we started today, missing some stuck landings on bars and vault, but it was incredible that the team left the first two events behind them and rocked floor and beam," Head Coach Mike Rowe commented. "They helped bring us back to gaining a good road score that will definitely replace an existing score to help out our NQS. I'm so proud of their tenacity, hunger and fight to get us back on track!"
Despite the loss, the Spartans put up their fifth-best score in program history and the fourth-highest this season. MSU's team score on beam ranked fourth all-time, while their 49.450 floor score was the third-highest score in program history and the tenth time the Spartans have scored a 49.450 or better on floor.
Freshman Skyla Schulte won her third all-around title with a 39.425, her second-best all-around score this season. Fellow freshman Gabrielle Stephen came in second with a score of 39.150. Both tied for the top podium spot on beam with a 9.900 each. Schulte set a new career-high with her beam score, and finished in a tie for fifth-overall on bars, scoring a 9.825.
The Spartans struggled to find their footing through the first two rotations. Starting out on bars, MSU put up a 48.900, led by Jori Jackard and Schulte, who both scored a 9.825. Baleigh Garcia came in second for the Green & White with a 9.800, while Stephen and Lea Mitchell each finished their routines with a 9.725.
Michigan State reached the 49.000-mark with a team score of 49.050 on vault. Freshman Lauren Hsu tied with OSU's Sydney Jennings and earned her first career vault title when she scored a 9.900 on her routine, setting a new career-best. Schulte and Garcia each put up scores of 9.825, Garcia nearly tying her career-high score of 9.850. Ohio State finished the first two rotations with scores of 49.225 on vault and 49.350 on bars, respectively.
The Buckeyes held on to a slight edge heading into the final two rotations. The Spartans were the first to perform on floor and were led off by senior Sydney Ewing. Ewing scored a 9.875, as did junior Nyah Smith in the two-spot, setting a new career-high. Fifth-year Lea Mitchell posted her second 9.900 on floor of the season. For the sixth-straight meet, senior Ashley Hofelich led the Spartans on floor with a 9.925, finishing in a tie for second place overall.
Wrapping things up on beam, MSU again scored a 49.450 and saw four gymnasts score a 9.900. Senior Alyssa Wiedeman's leadoff routine was good for a 9.850. Sophomore Giana Kalefe put up the first 9.900 of the event for the Spartans, making it her fourth score of 9.900 or better on the apparatus. Stephen, Schulte, and Garcia all finished up the event with 9.900s. Despite outscoring the Buckeyes in the event, OSU held on for the 197.075-196.850 win.
The Spartans return to East Lansing for a nonconference meet with Western Michigan on Saturday, March 5. The meet will also serve as a Senior Day celebration for the five graduating members of the team, Sydney Ewing, Ashley Hofelich, Lea Mitchell, Alaina Raybon and Alyssa Wiedeman. Competition will begin at 7 p.m. inside Jenison Field House.
"We know we can do better than we started today, missing some stuck landings on bars and vault, but it was incredible that the team left the first two events behind them and rocked floor and beam," Head Coach Mike Rowe commented. "They helped bring us back to gaining a good road score that will definitely replace an existing score to help out our NQS. I'm so proud of their tenacity, hunger and fight to get us back on track!"
Despite the loss, the Spartans put up their fifth-best score in program history and the fourth-highest this season. MSU's team score on beam ranked fourth all-time, while their 49.450 floor score was the third-highest score in program history and the tenth time the Spartans have scored a 49.450 or better on floor.
Freshman Skyla Schulte won her third all-around title with a 39.425, her second-best all-around score this season. Fellow freshman Gabrielle Stephen came in second with a score of 39.150. Both tied for the top podium spot on beam with a 9.900 each. Schulte set a new career-high with her beam score, and finished in a tie for fifth-overall on bars, scoring a 9.825.
The Spartans struggled to find their footing through the first two rotations. Starting out on bars, MSU put up a 48.900, led by Jori Jackard and Schulte, who both scored a 9.825. Baleigh Garcia came in second for the Green & White with a 9.800, while Stephen and Lea Mitchell each finished their routines with a 9.725.
Michigan State reached the 49.000-mark with a team score of 49.050 on vault. Freshman Lauren Hsu tied with OSU's Sydney Jennings and earned her first career vault title when she scored a 9.900 on her routine, setting a new career-best. Schulte and Garcia each put up scores of 9.825, Garcia nearly tying her career-high score of 9.850. Ohio State finished the first two rotations with scores of 49.225 on vault and 49.350 on bars, respectively.
The Buckeyes held on to a slight edge heading into the final two rotations. The Spartans were the first to perform on floor and were led off by senior Sydney Ewing. Ewing scored a 9.875, as did junior Nyah Smith in the two-spot, setting a new career-high. Fifth-year Lea Mitchell posted her second 9.900 on floor of the season. For the sixth-straight meet, senior Ashley Hofelich led the Spartans on floor with a 9.925, finishing in a tie for second place overall.
Wrapping things up on beam, MSU again scored a 49.450 and saw four gymnasts score a 9.900. Senior Alyssa Wiedeman's leadoff routine was good for a 9.850. Sophomore Giana Kalefe put up the first 9.900 of the event for the Spartans, making it her fourth score of 9.900 or better on the apparatus. Stephen, Schulte, and Garcia all finished up the event with 9.900s. Despite outscoring the Buckeyes in the event, OSU held on for the 197.075-196.850 win.
The Spartans return to East Lansing for a nonconference meet with Western Michigan on Saturday, March 5. The meet will also serve as a Senior Day celebration for the five graduating members of the team, Sydney Ewing, Ashley Hofelich, Lea Mitchell, Alaina Raybon and Alyssa Wiedeman. Competition will begin at 7 p.m. inside Jenison Field House.
Players Mentioned
Vault, Bars, Floor
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Women's GymnasticsNot Done Yet | Spartans All-Access
Tuesday, April 08
Competing Together | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, March 13
Breslin Debut | Michigan State Gymnastics
Wednesday, January 22
Spartans All-Access: Back to Back B1G Titles
Friday, March 15